Bending Schedule 40 PVC pipe ?

[G McCall]

Does this tool work ?

Has anyone used a Pipe Viper brand bending tool to bend small diameter Schedule 40 PVC pipe, 1/2" to 2" and some larger daimeter pipe ?
Where can you buy the tool ?

I saw a video where a man placed the tool ( a heavy duty spring) inside a schedule 40 PVC pipe and bent the pipe over his knee. Then the man pulled the spring out of the pipe and "presto" the pipe will bend to the angle you wanted. No kinks in pipe.

 

[Jimbrown]

I do not see how that can work unless you heat the pipe. They did that to some 3 inch pipe when they built my pool. The installer told me he could only do it on pools cause it weakened the pipe and did not meet code for houses and other construction.

 

[Kays Supply]

I have been a plumber for over 30 years. All I can say is " ain't no way". You have to heat it very carefully. Pluging the ends and filling with sand will do pretty much the same thing if heated. What is the reason for bending anyway? There are conduit bends for conduit and 90s 45s etc for plumbing.

 

[G McCall]

Kays Supply

This past weekend, I laid a 1-1/4" water line, starting at a new water meter and ran about 100 feet of pipe through the trees. I rented a trencher that would not dig straight for one thing and then I had to go around a few trees. I ended up with one sharp 22-1/2° (+-) bend and one gradual bend. I had to go back and forth to the supply house a few times to find the fittings I needed. I am new to laying PVC pipe for sure.

For the long bend I simply bent the pipe gently and laid it in the ditch. I have not pressured the line up yet.

I will have more plumbing to do in the future and the bending tool advertised looked like a good tool when the supply house does not have the bends I want.

 

[brandoro]

I have never seen PVC bent without heating it first. If you need a special bend, like an offset, one way is to use a hot plate or electric kitchen range, turn the element on high and hold the area of the pipe over the heat and keep turning it so it heats evenly then when it becomes quite flexible lay it on some plywood or similar that you have already marked the bend you want. Form the pipe to your pattern and hold it there until it cools enough to hold the pattern. Cooling can be assisted with wet rags. Almost any heat source can be used as long as you can spread it evenly over the area to be bent and not scorch the pipe. I am referring only to PVC used for electrical installations.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I used a lot of PVC conduit to wire a 120x56 horse barn that I had. With all the stalls having recepticals, inside and outside lights having mulitple switching points, fans, etc., I used a lot of conduit. No way I was going to purchase all the elbows I would have needed.

I took three 500W halogen lights and made a fixture to hold them in a triangular shape. I would hold the pipe in the center a few seconds, perhaps moving it back and forth if it was a 90 degree bend. Then I would pull it out and bend it by eye.

I needed to make a lot of suttle bends to follow the transition over 2x lumber, etc. and my method produced a nice clean look.

I bent up to 2 1/2" pipe using this method.

 

[ray66v]

Why not just buy the bends and glue them in???????
Certainly would be faster.

 

[kenacp]

I have bent 3/4" schedule 40 pipe by holding it in near boiling water for about 10 min. then gently bending,then let cool.No kinks and no sign of any loss of strength. (used a large seafood boiling pot)

 

[RedDirt]

Electricians on site have a heat blanket used specifically for heating and bending conduit. I have had success simply using my propane or mapp gas torch. Hold the flame back from the pipe; it scorches easily. Rotate the pipe continuously. Use leather gloves to handle the hot pipe. I've done this w/ elec conduit and water pipes to 80psi and have had no problems with either except an occasional scorch dot when I've napped too long in one spot. The water application was above grade, outside, and accessible; so I figured if it failed I could fix it. It's been in service five years now, no problems. If it was in a trench I'd make an as-built of the location so I could locate it in the future if needed.

 

[Kays Supply]

I didn't mean to offend. The DIY mind set is hard for me to remember. All I have to do is walk to the truck and pull out the fitting. In my area PVC for water is very popular. However, I have had to make many repairs on lines snapped by settling backfill, tree roots snapping it, female adapters cracking, etc. I would have to do some home work , but I am almost positive heating and bending PVC water line or DWV is against code in Illinois.